Your New Life in Christ

3 [^LTherefore] Since you were ·raised from the dead [^Lraised] with Christ, ·aim at [aspire to; seek after; focus on] ·what is in heaven [^Lthe things above], where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. ² ·Think only about [Set your minds on; Fix your thoughts on] the things ·in heaven [^Labove], not the things on earth. ³ [^LFor] ·Your old sinful self has [^LYou] died, and your new life is ·kept [hidden] with Christ in God. ⁴ When Christ, who is your^[a] life, ·comes again [appears; ^Lis revealed], you will ·share in his [^Lbe revealed with him in] glory.

⁵ So put all ·evil [earthly; worldly] things ·out of your life [^Lto death]: sexual sinning, ·doing evil [impurity; defilement], ·letting evil thoughts control you [lust; passion], ·wanting things that are evil [selfish desires], and greed, which is ·serving a false god [idolatry]. ⁶ Because of these things, God’s ·judgment [anger; wrath] is coming.^{[b] 7} You also used to ·do these things [live/walk this way] when you were ·part of the world [^Lliving among/in them].

⁸ But now also put these things out of your life: anger, ·bad temper [rage], ·hatred [malice; evil], ·saying things to hurt others [slander; blasphemy], and ·using evil words [abusive/filthy/obscene language] ·when you talk [^Lfrom your mouth]. ⁹ Do not lie to each other. You have ·left [taken/stripped off; or disarmed; 2:15] your old ·sinful life [self; person; man] and ·the things you did before [^Lits deeds/practices]. ¹⁰ You have ·begun to live the new life [^Lput on the new person/man], in which you are being ·made new [renewed] in ·the true knowledge of God [^Lknowledge] ·and are becoming like [^Laccording to the image of] the One who created you [Gen. 1:26–27]. ¹¹ In the new life there is no difference between Greeks and Jews, those who are circumcised and those who are not circumcised, or ·people who are foreigners [barbarians], or Scythians [^Cfrom the northern coast of the Black Sea, considered uncivilized and violent]. There is no difference between slaves and free people. But Christ is ·all that is important and is in all believers [^Lall and in all].

¹² ·God loves you and has chosen you and made you his holy people. So [^LAs God’s chosen, holy and beloved ones; Ex. 19:6; 1 Pet. 2:9] you should always clothe yourselves with ·mercy [^La heart of compassion], kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. ¹³ ·Bear with [Make allowances for; Be patient with] each other, and forgive each other. If someone ·does wrong to you [^Lhas a grievance/complaint against someone], forgive that person because the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ ·Even more than all this [Above all], clothe yourself in love, which ·holds you all together in perfect unity [or binds everything together; ^Lis the bond of perfection/completeness]. ¹⁵ Let the peace ·that Christ gives [of Christ] ·control [rule; arbitrate] your ·thinking [hearts], because you were all called together in one body [^Cthe church as the body of Christ] to have peace. Always be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the ·teaching [message; word] of Christ ·live in [or dwell among] you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and ·instruct [warn; admonish] each other by singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with ·thankfulness [gratitude; grace] in your hearts to God. ¹⁷ Everything you do or say should be done ·to obey [or as a representative of; ^Lin the name of] the Lord Jesus. And in all you do, give thanks to God the Father through Jesus.

Your New Life with Other People

¹⁸ Wives, ·yield to the authority of [submit to] your husbands, because this is ·the right thing to do [appropriate; fitting] in the Lord [Eph. 5:22–24; 1 Pet. 3:1–6].

¹⁹ Husbands, love your wives and ·be gentle with [^Ldon’t be harsh toward/embittered against] them [Eph. 5:25–33; 1 Pet. 3:7].

²⁰ Children, obey your parents in all things, because this pleases the Lord [Eph. 6:1–3].

²¹ Fathers [or Parents; Heb. 11:23], do not ·nag [aggravate; exasperate; provoke] your children [Eph. 6:4]. If you are too hard to please, they may ·want to stop trying [become discouraged; lose heart].

²² ·Slaves [Bondservants], obey your ·human [earthly] masters in all things [Eph. 6:5–9; 1 Pet. 2:18–25]. Do not obey just ·when they are watching you [^Lwith eye-service], ·to gain their favor [^Las people-pleasers], but serve them ·honestly [with a sincere heart], because you ·respect [reverence; fear] the Lord [Prov. 1:7]. ²³ In all the work you are doing, ·work the best you can [do it heart and soul; ^Lfrom the soul]. Work as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. ²⁴ ·Remember [^L…knowing] that you will receive from the Lord the reward ·which he promised to his people [^Lof an inheritance]. You are serving the Lord Christ. ²⁵ But remember that anyone who does wrong will be ·punished [repaid] for that wrong, and ·the Lord treats everyone the same [^Lthere is no favoritism/partiality].